Assistant Manager, HR Business Partner

Role overview

Balenciaga is seeking a collaborative, commercially aware Assistant Manager, HR Business Partner to support its retail business across Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. This role acts as a key HR partner to business leaders, delivering practical support across recruitment, employee relations, performance management, talent development, HR operations, and engagement initiatives to help create strong teams and a positive employee experience.

About the company

Founded by Cristóbal Balenciaga in 1917 and established in Paris in 1937, Balenciaga has become known for shaping modern couture through innovation in design and technique. The House continues to push boundaries through women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, accessories, and art objects, while also embracing digital progress and social responsibility. In 2021, the brand presented its 50th Couture collection, marking the first since the founder retired in 1968. Demna served as Artistic Director from October 2015 to July 2025, after which Pierpaolo Piccioli was appointed Creative Director in July 2025.

What you will do

• Work closely with Retail Directors, Area Managers, Store Managers, and other internal stakeholders across Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand to provide forward-looking HR guidance aligned to business goals.
• Develop trusted relationships with leaders and advise them on workforce planning, people management, and organisational effectiveness.
• Support managers with fair, consistent, and policy-compliant people decisions while following local labour laws.
• Turn business priorities into workable HR actions that improve capability, engagement, and performance.
• Take ownership of end-to-end recruitment for retail roles across the three markets, ensuring strong hiring quality and timely completion.
• Collaborate with hiring managers to shape hiring plans, define role needs, and identify suitable talent.
• Source luxury retail candidates through direct outreach, networking, and market mapping to build current and future talent pipelines.
• Assess applicants through interviews and competency-based evaluation to ensure fit with the brand’s culture and expectations.
• Handle offer discussions, pre-employment steps, and onboarding so candidates receive a smooth hiring experience.
• Track hiring data, keep recruitment records updated in Workday, and share status updates and market intelligence with stakeholders.
• Strengthen the employer brand and help maintain a polished recruitment experience.
• Support annual performance management activities such as goal setting, appraisals, calibration, and development planning.
• Assist with succession planning, talent review, and career development efforts to build organisational capability.
• Coach managers on feedback, performance improvement, and employee development discussions.
• Work with regional HR teams on talent initiatives and leadership development programmes.
• Provide everyday HR advice on employee relations matters including performance, investigations, disciplinary matters, grievances, attendance, and policy interpretation.
• Help managers resolve employee issues using practical, commercially sound, and legally compliant solutions.
• Manage employee life cycle activities such as onboarding, probation, transfers, promotions, contract updates, and exit processes.
• Ensure HR administration is carried out accurately and in line with local employment laws, internal policies, and governance requirements.
• Partner with HR Shared Services and Payroll to make sure administration is timely and correct.
• Maintain accurate employee data in Workday and support reporting, audits, and compliance work.
• Contribute to employee engagement activities that reflect Balenciaga’s culture and values.
• Coordinate learning, recognition, and wellbeing initiatives across Southeast Asia.
• Participate in regional and global HR projects, process improvements, and change initiatives.
• Share ideas that enhance employee experience, efficiency, and organisational effectiveness.

What you need

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• At least 5 to 7 years of progressive HR experience in luxury retail, fashion, or premium retail.
• Strong background in both HR business partnering and talent acquisition.
• Proven ability to run full-cycle retail recruitment across multiple Southeast Asian markets.
• Experience advising business leaders on HR matters, talent management, and employee relations.
• Good knowledge of employment laws and HR practices in Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.
• Hands-on experience with employee relations cases such as performance management, investigations, disciplinary matters, and workplace concerns.
• Commercial judgment with the ability to balance business needs, employee experience, and risk.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, including the ability to coach and challenge managers constructively.
• Excellent organisation, adaptability, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-moving regional setting.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to build trust across all levels.
• Experience using HRIS and applicant tracking systems; Workday knowledge is a plus.
• Self-driven, resilient, collaborative, and genuinely interested in luxury retail and employee experience.

Why this role stands out

This is a chance to contribute to Balenciaga’s philosophy while joining a team focused on learning, growth, and high performance. The company supports professional development within the House and across the Kering group, and encourages leaders and employees to reach their full potential in a dynamic, rewarding environment.

Diversity and equal opportunity

Balenciaga values a diverse workforce and believes diversity in gender, age, nationality, culture, disability, sexual orientation, and other dimensions enriches both the workplace and the client experience. As an equal opportunity employer, the brand welcomes applications from all qualified candidates and evaluates talent based on competencies and alignment with its behaviours. The interview process includes a discussion on how to succeed within the company.

Additional information

This is a regular full-time position based in Singapore and reporting to the Senior HR Manager, SEAO. The role is designed for a fast-paced luxury retail environment and involves supporting retail operations across Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. Approximately half of the role is dedicated to managing recruitment for retail positions. The planned start date is 2026-07-03. The organisation listed is BAL Singapore.